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Leicester and Leicestershire's Community Organisations on route to tackle social and economic exclusion together

Community partnership Maximising Economic Potential Project (MEP) has made it to the second round of applications for £5.2million of National Lottery funding, and received £50,000 to start tackling social and economic exclusion.

MEP is a partnership of eleven Leicester and Leicestershire community organisations working collaboratively to provide a wide range of employment- related services to help individuals who are furthest from the labour market to find and retain work.

Partners include charities and community groups specializing in age, disability, homelessness, and cultural support. This development funding will allow MEP to develop an application for a Building Better Opportunities project. If successful, the bid would bring up to £5.2 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund to Leicester and Leicestershire, to tackle the root causes of poverty, promote social inclusion and drive local jobs and growth.

Priya Thamotheram, Chair of the MEP Project Board said: 'Highfields Centre and its MEPpartners are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this Big Lottery development funding, which will enable us to fully consider and prepare for the major employment related services to be provided in Leicester and Leicestershire'.

Martin Buchanan, Chief Executive, E2 (Cooke E-Learning Foundation) stated that: 'This is fantastic news for the disadvantaged communities we work with and for people who are socially excluded in Leicester and Leicestershire that are furthest away from the labour markets. If we are successful in gaining this funding, we will be able to help people with complex needs to improve their job search and interview skills as well as identify voluntary opportunities to help increase participant's confidence and skills'.